Transparent luminescent silicone nanocomposites filled with bimodal PDMS-brush-grafted CdSe quantum dots

We report a simple and effective approach to disperse CdSe quantum dots (QDs) into a high molecular weight silicone matrix and prepare highly transparent luminescent CdSe–silicone nanocomposites. The CdSe QDs were synthesized via a room temperature injection method and were subsequently grafted with organophosphate-terminated poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) brushes. It was found that the bimodal PDMS-brush-grafted QDs demonstrate a homogeneous dispersion within the high molecular weight silicone matrix, enabling the preparation of thick transparent CdSe–silicone nanocomposites. The good dispersion also benefits the uniformity and long-term stability of the photoluminescence of the CdSe–silicone nanocomposites against thermal annealing. The prepared CdSe–silicone nanocomposites would have potential applications as color-conversion materials on light emitting diodes. This dispersing strategy could be broadly applicable and provides valuable guidelines for dispersing other functional nanoparticles in silicones.